German contemporary artist Simon Schubert’s masterfully turns blank papers into something wonderful. Schubert’s folded compositions mostly depict architectural interiors which he brings to life through a dance of light and shadow. Based in Cologne, the artist intricately manipulates single sheets of paper to capture the essence of historic spaces, utilizing clever interplay of light and shadow to define form and perspective. With the simplest of mediums, only his hands as a tool, Schubert’s work has captured the hearts of many.
The creation process of each piece by the artist begins with a meticulous sketch that often highlights symmetrical scenes. The artist then wets the paper before carefully drawing the scenery through several folds. Schubert’s style often emphasizes long corridors, connecting doorways, and reflective surfaces, which give a strong feeling of space, dimension, and fluidity. While the prudent process with such a delicate material brings out the work’s uniqueness, irreplaceability, and originality.
While his focus lies primarily on architectural subjects, his initial experimentation with paper folding stemmed from a desire to capture the essence of Irish novelist Samuel Beckett. Inspired during his studies at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Schubert’s exploration of Beckett’s features translated into delicate creases on paper, sparking his fascination with paper’s potential as a medium for unconventional drawing.
Schubert’s exploration of Beckett’s features translated into delicate creases on paper, sparking his fascination with paper’s potential as a medium for unconventional drawing.
Part of a larger exploration of place, memory, and imagination, Schubert’s folded paper creations serve as monochromatic reliefs that subtly evoke the depth and complexity of physical spaces. Within these intricate folds, unexpected elements emerge — a ghostly figure ascending stairs, or a mysterious shadow dancing along a wall — inviting viewers into a world where reality blurs with the surreal.
Schubert’s work has been widely exhibited across the globe, from New York to Europe and beyond, and ranges from installations to graphite drawings – and of course, his most well-known folded paper works. See more of the artist by following him on Instagram.
Images © Simon Schubert